How to save money during the holidays/weekends!

Holidays are the hardest times to save money but there are still ways to avoid unnecessary spending and get a stronger grip on your finances.

We often feel the need to reward ourselves during our holidays or weekends for all the long hours and days of work. It is important to do so but it is quite easy to go overboard as well. When on a tight budget, it becomes increasingly important to manage your finances and plan your expenses. Or else, you will only find yourself mindlessly spending on things that you may not need.
Today, it is very easy to live beyond your means with easily available credit cards, loans, and the ever-growing social pressures thanks to the Internet. You do not need to conform to the standards of society to have fun over your holidays. It is quite possible to save money and enjoy the days off as well. Here are a few of the ways in which you can do so -
1. Start with a budget - Budgeting is the most important tool when it comes to getting a stronger grip over your finances. By creating and following a budget you can decide how you're going to spend your money according to the goals that you have created. Your goal could be to increase your savings, build an emergency fund, set aside money for your next vacation or repay loans, credit cards or any other debt. For your holidays, you can set aside a certain amount of money and stick to spending not more than that amount.
Related - 7 types of budgeting for your personal finances!The 50/30/20 rule when it comes to Budgeting!2. Use cash, avoid cards - Credit cards have become the norm and are often being misused to buy things that you don't really need, to live a lifestyle that you can't really afford. Force yourself to use only cash wherever possible. Knowing that you only have a certain amount of cash to spend, you become stricter with your financial choices.
3. Make a list - Prepare a list for all the things that you intend to buy or do over your holidays. Having a list beforehand will help you plan your expenses and be organized. Restrict yourself to this list and avoid anything that isn't on it, unless you really need it.
4. Track spending - Tracking your expenses is another important step in saving money. If you do not keep track of it, you are going to find yourself in a position where you have no idea where all your money has gone. Use apps, spreadsheets or journals to help you track all your expenses. Limit yourself to the money that you have set aside for these expenses.
Related - Top 3 Finance Apps to help you Manage your Budgets and Track your Expenses!5. Cut back on extras - We’re all guilty of indulging a little more than we should simply because it’s our holidays. These extras could be anything from a new dress to premium subscriptions or even fancy restaurant dinners. These little extras amount to a huge number that ends up eating into your budget. Cut back wherever necessary and you will find yourself saving more than you think.

6. Sell unwanted things - Have a lot of things around the house that you do not use? You can sell them and make use of that extra money. List them down on classified websites or Facebook Groups and downsize your belongings. More often than not, we accumulate things not because of a need but out of wants that give us temporary happiness.
Related - Top 5 Websites and Apps to Sell your Used Items and Make Money!7. Eat and drink at home - This is a no brainer. Cooking your meals at home will save you a lot of money in comparison to eating outside or having takeaways. Sure, you can enjoy a fancy meal here and there but cut back as much as you can to meet your financial needs.
Related - 7 ways to Save Money when it comes to dining out!8. Cut back on unwanted groceries - During our holidays, it is common to buy more grocery items than we need. We like stocking up on things, in particular, junk food. Doing so will not only affect your wallet but also your waistline.
Related - 10 ways to Save Money on your Food & Household Expenses!7 tricks Supermarkets use to make you spend more money!9. Use cashback apps - Cashback apps and websites allow you to earn cashback on your purchases. These apps simply involve scanning your bills and cash is automatically credited to your account. You can then redeem the cash via PayPal or gift vouchers.
Related -Convert your Grocery Bills to Cash with Znap!Get Cashback on your favorite Grocery Brands with ClipTheDeal!10. Use discount offers and coupons - Coupons and other gift vouchers are a bonus giving you discounts on your purchases and essentially more value for your money. Opt for stores where you can avail discounts or other offers such as buy one get one free. Besides that, many brands have their own loyalty cards where points earned from a few purchases can be redeemed for a gift voucher or a discount. The key is to use these coupons for items that you had intended to buy on your list.
Related - 7 tips on how to stop spending money on unnecessary things!

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